Rep. Scott Heiner

Maddy summaryHB 217 requires Wyoming county clerks to conduct a random hand count audit of ballots in one precinct per county after each primary and general election. The Secretary of State randomly selects the precinct, and the county clerk must compare the hand count results to the electronic tabulation within one week of the election, reporting the findings immediately. This bill adds a new verification step to existing election audits, mandating that the Secretary of State adopt implementing rules by September 2025. It directly affects county clerks (who perform audits) and the Secretary of State (who selects precincts and creates rules), but does not change voting procedures or ballot access.

Maddy summaryHB 194 creates a new misdemeanor crime for distributing material deemed "harmful to minors" to individuals under 18. It directly affects anyone who shares such material - like books, films, or online content - via digital means, in-person, or at events targeting minors. The bill defines "harmful to minors" by three criteria: material appealing to prurient interests in minors, patently offensive to adult standards for minors, and lacking literary/scientific value for minors. It repeals an existing exemption that previously protected school, library, and museum staff from obscenity charges when handling materials in their work. The law imposes fines up to $6,000 or up to one year in jail for violations, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 118) allows landowners who hold hunting licenses for elk, deer, antelope, or turkey to sell those licenses to others, subject to specific rules. Landowners cannot sell to immediate family, and buyers must follow all standard hunting license rules. The bill also exempts these sold licenses from a separate landowner coupon fee. The Game and Fish Department must create rules for the sale process, and the changes take effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects landowners with hunting licenses and potential buyers seeking access to these licenses.

Maddy summaryHB 218 requires Wyoming's Public Service Commission to pause all pending rate cases, applications, and related proceedings when a public utility files a lawsuit challenging the commission's rules, regulations, or decisions. This pause continues until the lawsuit is fully resolved, affecting utilities, the commission, and any parties involved in those pending matters. The law does not apply to lawsuits focused on factual disputes (like evidence or witness testimony) or enforcement actions for commission violations. It directly changes how the commission handles active cases during utility litigation.

Maddy summaryHB 208 prohibits anyone from intentionally injecting chemicals or substances into Wyoming's atmosphere to alter weather, temperature, or sunlight intensity. It directly affects government entities, researchers, or private companies conducting such atmospheric experiments within the state. Key provisions require the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to test air quality at affected sites (using methods like transmission electron microscopy) and protect individuals who report suspected violations in good faith. The bill also clarifies that existing publicly disclosed contracts are unaffected. This legislation aims to address concerns about unproven health and environmental risks from geoengineering activities.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 175 reduces the maximum duration of unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 20 weeks for eligible claimants. The bill amends sections 27-3-304 and 27-3-316(c)(ii) to lower the weekly benefit calculation cap from 26 to 20 times a claimant's weekly benefit amount, and reduces extended benefits from 13 to 6.5 times the weekly amount. It also renames the "Unemployment Insurance Commission" to the "Unemployment Reemployment Insurance Commission" and appropriates $18,000 for system updates. The changes apply to all claims filed on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 116) creates new criminal offenses for money laundering and illegal investments. It defines money laundering as knowingly handling property derived from crime (like cash from theft or fraud) or structuring transactions to evade reporting rules. The law imposes penalties of up to 10 years in prison or $10,000 fines for these offenses, effective July 2025. It directly affects individuals, businesses, and financial institutions involved in transactions that conceal criminal proceeds or bypass required reporting. The bill updates Wyoming's criminal code to align with federal anti-money laundering standards.

Maddy summaryHB 282 establishes that for certain properties (like recently purchased residential real estate), the purchase price (acquisition value) is presumed correct for property tax assessment, unless proven otherwise. This directly affects property owners who recently bought land or buildings, as it shifts the burden to tax assessors to justify using a different value. The bill clarifies that sworn statements about acquisition value must remain confidential but can be used by county assessors and the state board of equalization to determine tax value, while maintaining privacy protections. It amends Wyoming's property tax code to formalize this presumption and update related definitions and procedures. The bill does not change tax rates but changes how property value is initially determined for tax purposes.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 138 requires the Wyoming Energy Authority to study the economic impact of the state's energy industry by October 1, 2025. The study must analyze energy production types, regional economic effects, annual tax contributions, employment data, payroll, and other economic benefits over five years. It also mandates the Energy Authority to seek assistance from state agencies and higher education institutions, then submit findings to specific legislative committees. This bill directly affects the Energy Authority and indirectly affects Wyoming's energy producers by requiring data collection on their economic contributions.

Maddy summaryHB 116 invalidates out-of-state driver's licenses issued to unauthorized aliens (non-citizens not lawfully present in the U.S.) in Wyoming. It deems such licenses invalid if issued by another state or marked to indicate the holder didn't prove lawful presence. The bill modifies existing law to exclude these licenses from valid exemptions for nonresidents and adds penalties for driving with an invalid license, including fines up to $750 or jail time. It requires the Wyoming Department of Transportation to create rules for implementation and takes effect July 1, 2025. This directly affects undocumented immigrants holding out-of-state licenses who would no longer be permitted to drive legally in Wyoming.